HIV screening

Question 1

What is HIV?

Answer 1

Human immunodeficiency virus

Blood-borne virus

Lifelong infection

Effective treatment, but no cure

Question 2

What is AIDS?

Answer 2

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, much less commonly used now

Question 3

When do UK guidelines recommend you should test for HIV?

Answer 3

After 4 weeks post exposure

Confirm with second test after 3 months

Same for both positive and negative first results

Question 4

What type of test is used to test for HIV? What does this detect?

Answer 4

4th generation (Ab/Ag) HIV test

HIV antibodies
p24 antigen

Question 5

How many days after exposure do most people seroconvert?

Answer 5

between 7-21 days

Question 6

If someone presents asking for a HIV test, having been exposed <4 weeks previously, what should you do?

Answer 6

Do test

BUT

ask them to come back again when 4 weeks has passed

Question 7

Who should be tested for HIV?

Answer 7

Anyone who requests a test

All patients with STI

General practice where the prevalence is >2/1000

Anyone who has had sexual contact with individuals from: Africa, Far East, and Caribbean

Sexual partners of known HIV+ individuals

MSM

IVDU

Question 8

Which groups of people are most likely report for care for HIV?

Answer 8

MSM

Black/afican/carribean

Question 9

What are barriers to HIV testing?

Answer 9

Patient barriers: Ignorance
Denial
Stigma
Fear
Access
Needle phobia
Historical myths
Confidentiality

HCP barriers: Stigma
Fear of causing offence

Question 10

How should you go about counselling someone who is considering having a HIV test?

Answer 10

Recommend
Normalise
Reassure - no insurance or mortgage penalties for test
Send